Michelle Meade, co-director of the Center for Disability Health and Wellness at U-M and one of CHRT’s 2020 health policy fellows, is in Bridge Magazine. “They care for Michigan’s most vulnerable; we should care for them,” writes Meade, referring to the caregivers who have shown up to support “the lives, health, and functioning of others” during the coronavirus pandemic and, in the process, “put their own health and lives at risk.”
“Quality caregiving can allow [Michiganders] to obtain and maintain employment, to manage health and secondary conditions, and to stay out of hospitals and nursing homes,” writes Meade. But in Michigan, she says, unpaid caregivers put their own health, employment and income at risk and paid caregivers can typically make more working at McDonalds where they may also qualify for medical insurance and other benefits.
“While the low wages of these essential workers may be unlikely to change any time soon – particularly in light of the economic recession we expect to result from the COVID-19 pandemic,” writes Meade, “there are other steps that local and state players can take to support this class of essential workers.” Meade’s top three ideas include tax credits and deductions, subsidized health insurance, and strengthened transportation options.
“We know that permanently increasing wages for caregivers may seem overwhelming and infeasible; however, we cannot allow the perceived inability to do that thing prevent us from doing anything,” writes Meade.
The 
Beaumont announced it is in merger talks with Advocate Aurora Health, a major healthcare system in other parts of the Midwest says Hank Winchester, reporting for Click on Detroit. 
“By multiple measures, coronavirus COVID-19 has been particularly deadly in Michigan” reports Julie Mack in a recent MLive story. “Michigan’s high covid death rate equates to almost 10 percent of the state’s confirmed cases,” writes Mack. “That’s the highest percentage in the country.”
In 
Healthcare professionals are in a dilemma. Sick people are putting off medical attention, even if they are suffering from life-threatening conditions. Healthcare providers are working to persuade those who need urgent medical attention to receive the necessary treatment.
The novel coronavirus is not only causing massive stress on hospital systems, but it is also threatening the existence of independent practices in Michigan. Ted Roelofs, in his latest story for Bridge Magazine, shares that as cases started to increase, and social distancing rules were implemented in March, private practices saw a dramatic decline in patients and revenue. 
CHRT Executive Director 
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